In the MacKenzie Gore trade, the Washington Nationals got five pieces in return. They received Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Abimelec Ortiz and Yeremy Cabrera. We have talked about the first four prospects, but I thought Yeremy Cabrera was worth discussing too. He may be the 5th piece in the deal, but he is more than a throw in.
On prospect rankings, Cabrera actually ranks ahead of Abimelec Ortiz, but is not as close to the big leagues. Pipeline ranks him as the Nats 17th best prospect, while Baseball America has him at 22nd. The 20 year old outfielder has an intriguing blend of speed, defense and flashes of hitting ability.
Cabrera’s best trait is his defense in center field. Baseball America considers him a 60 grade defender, while Pipeline has him at a 55. BA says he is a plus defender due to his elite combination of speed and instincts. He was actually named the Rangers Minor League defender of the year last season.
Along with the defense, Cabrera is also one of the fastest runners in the system now. He stole 43 bases in the minors last year. Cabrera was actually one of just six teenagers to post a wRC+ above 115, steal at least 25 bases and hit at least 7 homers last year. Most of these players are top 100 prospects.
Want to push some Angel Cepeda love! Some excellent company in this filtered search.
Low-A or higher, 19 or younger, wRC+ 115 or greater, 25 or more SB, 7 or more HRs in 2025:
While Cabrera is a legitimate prospect now, it was not always this way. He signed for just $10,000 in 2022. His minor league production and his inclusion in a major trade made this more than a worthwhile investment for the Rangers. He is a player with helium attached to his name.
While speed and defense are Cabrera’s calling card, he also shows promise at the plate. In a pitcher friendly environment, Cabrera hit .256 with a .730 OPS in A ball last year. While those numbers don’t seem like anything crazy, it was good for a 120 wRC+.
Cabrera has surprising raw power for a smaller guy, hitting max exit velocities of 110 MPH. He kept the ball off of the ground nicely as well. However, that raw power has not fully shown up in games yet. Cabrera hit just 8 homers and 12 doubles in 102 games, with a .366 slugging percentage. At just 20, there could be more in the tank though.
Getting on base is one thing that Cabrera excels at in the low minors. He posted a .364 OBP with an 11.5% walk rate last season. Those are solid numbers for a young defense first outfielder. He also has decent contact skills, with a strikeout rate below 20%.
Haven’t seen any mention of the 5th piece in the deal, OF Yeremy Cabrera, but he’s got very good numbers as well In 102 games at Low A as a 19 yo in 2025 -120 wRC+ -.364 OBP -8 HRs -43 SBs! 16th ranked prospect in TEX farm, don’t sleep on himpic.twitter.com/C0vlF368ak
Cabrera is never going to be a special hitter, but he should be able to hit enough to get to the MLB. His speed and defense provide a strong floor as a fourth outfielder. If the power comes around, he could be a strong side platoon guy. Left handed pitching seems to give him a lot of trouble, hitting below .200 against southpaws last year.
For a 5th piece in a trade, this is a really nice get. Yeremy Cabrera is young, athletic and has plenty of paths to becoming a big leaguer. You don’t see that much from a guy who is considered the “throw in” of a trade.
Next season will be a test for Cabrera. He should start next season at High-A Wilmington. The Nats High-A affiliate is infamous for being pitcher friendly. However, Cabrera is used to that, with the Rangers Low-A affiliate also being tough for hitters.
The Nationals have a lot of infielders in the lower minors, but not as many strong outfield prospects. Obviously, the Nats have plenty of young outfield talent in the MLB and even AAA, but as you get down to A ball, you don’t see as much talent. This means Cabrera should be able to get a lot of looks in center field.
Having watched Jacob Young for the last couple of years, Nats fans know how valuable center field defense can be. Cabrera may not be that level of defender, but he is not far off. He also provides much more offensive upside than Young. It will take him a couple years to get to the MLB, but do not be surprised if Yeremy Cabrera is a solid contributor one day.
Good morning friends. It was kind of a slow news day yesterday around baseball. Hopefully things will pick up again soon as we close in on spring training.
Regardless, here are the stories we’re tracking as we pass the mid-week point.
The Rockies acquired infielder Edouard Julien and right-hander Pierson Ohl from the Twins for minor league righty Jace Kaminska and cash considerations.
By this point in the year, most of the major publications — other than Baseball Prospectus, which deserves its own article — have released their list of the top 100 prospects in baseball heading into the 2026 season. I already covered the Brewers prospects named to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America’s lists, but ESPN and The Athletic both included Brewers who weren’t named to either. Also of note: Keith Law ranked the Brewers’ farm system as the best in baseball earlier this morning.
You can find our coverage of Pipeline’s list here and Baseball America’s here. For those of you trying to keep track of which prospects were named to which list:
Baseball America: SS Jesús Made (#4), INF Luis Peña (#47), SS Cooper Pratt (#50), SS/2B/CF Jett Williams (#71), RHP Brandon Sproat (#81), RHP Logan Henderson (#96)
MLB Pipeline: Made (#3), Peña (#26), Williams (#51), Pratt (#64), Sproat (#100)
The Athletic (Keith Law): Made (#3), Peña (#27), Williams (#45), C Jeferson Quero (#74), Sproat (#75), Pratt (#99)
ESPN: Made (#3), Pena (#26), Williams (#32), Henderson (#64), Pratt (#70), Sproat (#73), Quero (#75), RHP Bishop Letson (#91)
Made, Peña, Williams, Pratt, and Sproat are viewed as consensus top prospects. ESPN, however, expanded the list to include Quero (also included by Law), Henderson (also included by Baseball America), and Letson. Let’s examine why some outlets felt these players deserved inclusion while others did not:
C Jeferson Quero
Quero was a consensus top prospect as recently as last year (ranked No. 43 by Baseball America, No. 47 by MLB Pipeline). He could very well be an above-average hitter (for a catcher) at the big-league level. He’s also a solid receiver and has drawn rave reviews from Brewers’ minor league coaches for his work with pitches. The draw with Quero, the first thing mentioned in any scouting report on him, was always his rocket of an arm. Back in 2023, he was posting pop times as low as 1.86 seconds.
The question with Quero isn’t his upside, it’s his health. Quero tore his right labrum during the first game of the 2024 season. He missed the entire rest of the season, the first two months of 2025, and since returning, his arm hasn’t looked the same. The 23-year-old Venezuelan had a caught stealing rate of just 18.9% last season, leading to long-term concerns about his defensive viability and explaining why he was left off both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America’s lists this year.
Labrum injuries are fickle, as I wrote about last year in anticipation of Quero’s return. It’s possible that his arm is merely working back to full strength, that a full offseason of rehab and training will have him looking more like the Quero of old before the summer. It’s also possible that his arm will never be the same and that the Brewers may need to adjust expectations as to who Quero will be as a big leaguer.
Milwaukee adding him to the 40-man roster may signal that they see him spelling Contreras, not as an eventual everyday catcher. There’s an argument to be made that if Milwaukee saw him as the catcher of the future, they would give him more playing time to develop in Triple-A. Then again, the recent signing of Reese McGuire (albeit to a minor league deal with a spring training invite) might signal that they do intend to give him that time.
Even if his arm isn’t ever what it was, or 90% of what it was, The Athletic senior baseball writer Keith Law is more optimistic about his bat than most outlets. Law thinks that his bat will translate to the majors regardless of how his arm recovers, stating that, “Quero has always been a high-contact hitter who likes to swing the bat, and he kept that up with a 36.8% chase rate in Triple A while still striking out only 14% of the time because he doesn’t miss pitches in the zone much and actually makes more contact on balls out of the zone than most hitters… I do believe the bat will keep coming back.”
Either way, we should have a more definitive answer on what Quero will be at the major league level by the end of the season. If Quero’s arm returns to above average, his bat makes him a solid starter and potential future All-Star. If it doesn’t, he may be more of a backup/rotational catcher, which is still a valuable piece to have.
RHP Bishop Letson
Letson is one of my personal favorite prospects in baseball, so it’s great to see him recognized by ESPN. Letson only started 11 games last season due to a shoulder injury. When he came back in August, he made four High-A starts and one start in Double-A Biloxi. Three of those starts were great, while two of them (including his lone appearance in Biloxi) didn’t go very well.
ESPN thinks the main question with Letson “is his health,” but he also has “most of the markers (they) look for in projecting a breakthrough season, so front-line potential is still within reach.” Letson’s command has also left something to be desired, but that’s often part of the natural development process — especially considering his age (21). ESPN notes that ranking Letson in the top 100 prospects is an “aggressive stance,” but “presuming he’ll be healthy in 2026” he should justify the ranking because of his “massive extension,” “starter feel,” and “above-average stuff.”
I wouldn’t even say “above-average stuff.” The 6’4” right-hander is downright electric at times, and his stuff plays up even more due to his elite extension. Jacob Misiorowski’s delivery averages around 7 1/4 feet of extension, which would put him in the 99th percentile leaguewide. Letson is three inches shorter than the Miz, yet Baseball Savant’s scouting report compares his extension to Misiorowski. He doesn’t throw super hard, normally sitting around 93-94 mph, but hitters have less time to see the pitch and react because Letson releases the ball closer to home plate than your average pitcher. Elite extension also creates a more challenging downhill angle for hitters and disrupts hitter’s timing. If he bulks up (Letson weighs about 170 pounds), he could add a couple ticks to his velocity anyway.
Letson’s arsenal features a four-seam and sinker that both have the potential to be above-average offerings at the major league level. The same is true of his low-80s slider with sharp sweep, which has proven to be a swing-and-miss offering at the minor league level, and a mid-80s changeup with arm-side fade that looked improved last season. Per Baseball America, Letson has the best fastball and the best slider in the Brewers organization. All of those pitches worked for him in the minors — Letson pitched to the tune of a 2.40 ERA across 11 appearances (nine starts) between High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi. As ESPN said, if he stays healthy next season, he’s a definite breakout candidate.
RHP Logan Henderson
Henderson is slightly more of a known quantity among Brewers fans because of his impressive performance in Milwaukee last season (1.78 ERA in five appearances). Henderson wins because of his command, his fastball shape (despite slightly below-average velocity), and — above all else — his plus changeup, which you may remember from last season.
The concern with Henderson is that his heavy reliance on his fastball and changeup could leave him vulnerable as hitters adjust to either pitch. During his five big league appearances, Henderson threw either a fastball or changeup on more than 85% of pitches. His cutter and slider aren’t very good (40/45 grade), but so far “his ability to throw his changeup in any situation” has made “his cutter and slider useful in small doses.” ESPN notes that this approach has worked thus far, so it would be “silly” to expect it not to continue working at the major league level.
The major leagues feature the best of the best, so I don’t think it’s “silly” to question his prolonged effectiveness as a starter who relies on two pitches. It’s rare, although definitely not unheard of, that a starting pitcher has experienced continued success with a two-pitch arsenal. I do have faith in the Brewers “pitching lab” to turn one of his other pitches into a serviceable offering.
The worst-case scenario is that he gets hit around a bit next year as hitters get more major league film on him, but even in that scenario he’d probably still be highly effective out of the bullpen. Still, I think odds are he’ll be a solid starting pitcher. Milwaukee probably wouldn’t have traded Freddy Peralta (and Tobias Myers) if they didn’t think Henderson could give them anything in the rotation.
Two teams inside the Eastern Conference Play-In group collide when the Miami Heat visit the Chicago Bulls tonight.
Both teams lost games on Wednesday as they will play the second half of back-to-backs.
Miami is one of the better teams playing on consecutive nights, so my Heat vs Bulls predictions and NBA picks side with the visitors to the United Center on Thursday, January 29.
Heat vs Bulls prediction
Heat vs Bulls best bet: Heat -2 (-110)
You don’t see this very often, but this is the first of three straight games between these teams, with the Chicago Bulls hosting the Miami Heat tonight before back-to-back weekend games in South Beach.
The Heat got dumped 133-124 in Orlando on Wednesday, but they hold the fourth-best cover record in the NBA playing the second half of a back-to-back, going 7-3-0 ATS.
It helps that they have a Top-3 scoring offense, averaging 119.8 points per game.
The Heat are also dominant against teams below .500, going 15-4 – that’s tied for the fewest losses in the East, and second-fewest losses in the NBA in that category.
After a nice four-game winning streak, the Bulls have crashed down to earth, losing at home to the Lakers before getting toppled by the lowly Pacers 113-110.
They’re not exactly a successful turnaround team, either, going just 2-5-0 ATS on the second night of back-to-back sets, with only SacTo, OKC, and Brooklyn beneath them.
While these Bulls can also score, tied for seventh in the NBA at 117.7 points per game, this is also a Bottom-5 scoring defense, getting eaten up for 119.8 PPG.
Miami torched them for 143 points the last time they met – which, wildly, only matches the second-most points they’ve allowed in a game this season.
I like the Heat’s offense to carry them to a cover and a win tonight.
Heat vs Bulls same-game parlay
Norman Powell had 22 points against Orlando, snapping a three-game sub-20-point slide, but he hasn’t cracked 23 in seven straight games.
Josh Giddey’s assist line is 7.5, but he’s only topped that number once in the last five games. However, he’s been dealing against Miami, picking up at least eight dimes in three straight games, making this bet definitely worth the sprinkle.
Heat vs Bulls SGP
Heat -2
Norman Powell Under 21.5 points
Josh Giddey Over 7.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Flickering Flames
I get Bam Adebayo is on a rebounding binge, as he pulled down 12 against the Magic and has at least 12 in five of the last seven games. But it’s a different story against the Bulls, who have limited Bam to 10 or fewer in eight of their last 10 matchups.
And Jaime Jaquez Jr. has hit 14 points or more in a game just once in his last six, and if his recent minutes stay the same, so should his scoring. Jaquez has played 28 minutes or less seven times in his last 10. Of those games, he has scored 14 points or fewer six times.
Heat vs Bulls SGP
Heat -2
Norman Powell Under 21.5 points
Josh Giddey Over 7.5 assists
Bam Adebayo Under 10.5 rebounds
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Under 13.5 points
Heat vs Bulls odds
Spread: Heat -1.5 (-110) | Bulls 1.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Heat -120 | Bulls +100
Over/Under: Over 240.5 (-110) | Under 240.5 (-110)
Heat vs Bulls betting trend to know
Miami has won seven of its last eight games against Eastern Conference opponents with a losing record. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Bulls.
How to watch Heat vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Sun, CHSN
Heat vs Bulls latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Álvaro Arbeloa’s team have concerns as they look ahead to the knockout stages, while Jamie Carragher has concerns about the draw
It was billed by broadcasters as “Matchday Mayhem”. Finally, after 17 of the 18 final day matches had finished, came a chaotic denouement. Not even José Mourinho’s long Champions League heritage had included a moment like this, though his wild celebration was familiar. Benfica were beating Real Madrid 3-2, and Mourinho’s former club were already dropping out of the top eight. “I was told [the scoreline] is enough, so let’s close the door,” said Mourinho.
Zach Maxwell and his 100+ mph heater landed at spot #12 on this year’s Community Prospect Rankings, and he’ll take his talents to Goodyear for spring training in just over two weeks with an eye on a spot on the Opening Day roster of the Cincinnati Reds.
Now, it’s time to vote for spot #13!
Per usual, here’s a link to the Google Form where you can vote, though it should be embedded at the end of the list if you’d rater read first and then vote on-page after digesting all the glorious information on these up and coming future Cincinnati Reds. I’ll nuke the link and remove the poll when voting closes, so if you show up on this post after said window, the previous sentence won’t make a ton of sense!
Here’s how the list has materialized so far:
Sal Stewart
Alfredo Duno
Rhett Lowder
Hector Rodriguez
Edwin Arroyo
Cam Collier
Steele Hall
Tyson Lewis
Chase Petty
Arnaldo Lantigua
Jose Franco
Zach Maxwell
A large list of talented names exists below for spot #13. Have at it with the votes!
Adolfo Sanchez, OF (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: .339/.474/.504 with 2 HR, 10 SB in 154 PA with DSL Reds (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: Left-handed hitter who profiles to have a plus hit tool and potentially plus power; arm good enough to play RF if he doesn’t stick in CF; shaved 20% off his K% year over year; plus runner
Cons: Questions whether he’s already physically matured to the point where projecting him to be much better exist
The Reds signed Sanchez for $2.7 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2024 and kept him there to ply his trade professionally in the Dominican Summer League. Things went quite poorly for him there during his age 17 season, and he subsequently stuck around there to repeat in 2025 – though this time, things went swimmingly.
He’ll undoubtedly play in the States in 2026, but the question now is just how quickly the Reds might try to move him up if he hits the ground running. At 6’3” and 200 lbs already, he’s not the kind of prospect where you say he’s X now, but when he gets bigger and stronger he’ll be Y in two years. In other words, if he looks the part now, he needs to be challenged immediately, and my hope is that he gets time with Daytona right off the bat.
He’s got a hit tool that comes with all-fields power, excellent patience at the plate, and I really do think his swing will continue to play. Still, it’s likely he ends up in a corner spot in the OF, which means the power’s going to need to continue to show up for him to project as an everyday regular – at least vs. RHP.
Leo Balcazar, SS/2B (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .263/.339/.381 with 12 HR, 8 SB in 560 PA split between A+ Dayton Dragons (Midwest League) and AA Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Southern League); .277/.340/.340 in 103 PA with Peoria Javelinas (Arizona Fall League)
Pros: Good strike zone judgement and plate discipline (52/75 BB/K in 2025); well-rounded tools, continuing to improve off ACL surgery
Cons: Not a ton of power yet; some question whether he’ll be able to stick at SS long term
It’s easy to forget just how good of a start Balcazar had to his pro career after signing with the Reds for $100,000 out of Venezuela. He posted an .882 OPS in 2021 in Dominican Summer League play, an .886 OPS in 2022 with the Arizona Complex League Reds, and was off to a wicked start (.897 OPS) across the first 18 games of his 2023 season with Class-A Daytona before he tore his ACL.
2024 was a bit of a rough year for him, however, as the layoff and working back from the surgery clearly impacted his performance (.264/.295/.354 in 410 PA). However, 2025 saw him look a lot more like his former explosive self – both at the plate and in the field – and he clearly was healthy enough once again as he logged a combined 663 PA across all leagues.
He’s still just 21 years of age (22 in June of 2026), and if he’s shaken the rust off completely and enters this season after a normal winter, there’s a chance we see a whole lot more from him, too.
Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida
Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in
Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown
One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.
However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.
Carlos Jorge, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .251/.342/.355 with 6 HR, 40 SB in 469 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)
Pros: Plus speed; former infielder moved to CF in 2023 and in 2025 looked like a natural there; plus speed; shaved 12.5% off K-rate from down 2024 season; 60-grade arm strength a weapon in CF
Cons: ISO declined for third straight year, this time precipitously; prone to extreme streakiness
If you threw out every other stop of Carlos Jorge’s pro career and just focused on the good ones, he’d already be ranked by now. The good parts of the best of his years have been quite tremendous, all told. He’s flashed great speed (40 steals in 2025), good pop for a small-ish CF (12 HR in 2023 and 2024; .483 SLG in the cavernous Florida State League in 2023), and the ability to play pretty elite CF defense (as recently as 2025).
However, he’s added some real clunkers in there, too. He hit just .220/.291/.394 with a K-rate over 31% at Dayton in 2024, and that came on the heels of hitting just .239/.277/.398 in 23 games once he reached Dayton at the end of 2023.
Maybe it’s just Dayton, where he was again in 2025 in a much better all-around year, even though his power dried up again. He’ll surely begin with AA Chattanooga of the Southern League in 2026, and at 22 (with his position in CF now settled) the former 2B might finally have a one-track shot to focus on his all around game in a new locale. After acing his move on defense, shaving off a ton of strikeouts, and bumping his walk rate back up over 11.1% (where it’s been for most of his career), perhaps 2026 will have a lot more in store for him.
Liberts Aponte, SS (18 years old)
2025 at a glance: .247/.368/.461 with 7 HR, 9 SB in 193 PA for DSL Rojos (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: 29/35 K/BB showed greatly improving strike zone awareness; already a plus defender at short where he projects to be excellent both with range and arm long-term
Cons: Still not viewed as a potential plus with the bat, though early returns are already better than original scouting reports; has a long way to go in terms of physically maturing
The Reds doled out $1.9 million to sign Aponte last January, and that marked the single largest contract they doled out in that particular international signing window. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the #18 player overall in that class, noting he was ‘one of the most skilled defenders in his class’ and ‘offers solid wheels’ with ‘magic in his hands’ while doling out a 65 grade on his fielding ability.
The rest, we knew, would take time, as he was just liked at 6’0” and 160 lbs, and that even felt like a slight exaggeration. To his credit, though, he mashed 7 homers as a 17 year old in DSL play while showing more power than anticipated, and if that aspect of his game grows to match what’s already known the Reds have found themselves a gem.
It will be interesting to see if the Reds push him up to Arizona Complex League play at all in 2026 or give him another year in the DSL seeing as he just turned 18 years old in November.
Luke Holman, RHP (23 years old)
2025 at a glance: ER, 2 H, 10 K, 4 BB in 9.0 IP with Daytona Tortugas (Class-A Florida State League
Pros: Two plus breaking pitches (slider, curve)
Cons: Not a ton of velocity on his fastball, which sits 91-94 mph
Luke Holman threw 109 pitches for LSU in a 6-2 loss to North Carolina on June 1st, 2024, a game in which he yielded 4 ER in 6.2 IP with 7 H, 11 K, and a lone walk. Since then, he’s thrown just 9.0 IP on a mound, total.
Holman, Cincinnati’s 2nd round pick in 2024, sat out the remainder of 2024 after being drafted, finishing his calendar year with 91.2 IP of 2.75 ERA ball that included a wonderful 0.98 WHIP and 127/33 K/BB. When his 2025 began in Daytona, all signs looked promising in his first pair of starts only for an elbow issue to subsequently sit him down and require Tommy John surgery, and we’ve not seen him since.
He sat 91-94 with his fastball (and touched 96) before, and has a pair of wicked breaking balls that he uses as his out pitches. If he returns to form in 2026 the way he ways before (or even better!), he still profiles as a back-end starter who should move quickly through Cincinnati’s system after dominating SEC play in stints first with Alabama and later with LSU.
Mason Morris, RHP (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: 9.00 ERA, 7/1 K/BB in 4.0 IP with Class-A Daytona Tortugas; 3.29 ERA, 78/31 K/BB in 54.2 IP with University of Mississippi
Pros: Fastball that can touch 100 mph; four-pitch mix
Cons: Lack of experience
Mason Morris landed with Ole Miss in 2023 primarily as a corner infielder, and the now 6’4” 225 lb righty only recently became a full-time pitcher prior to the Reds selecting him with their 3rd round pick in 2025. He’s got projection through the roof, though, with a 100 mph heater, plus cutter, and a pair of other breaking balls that look like they’ve also got the juice.
The question, though, is how Cincinnati plans to use him.
Morris only got a pair of outings as a pro after being drafted, and it appears the Reds have intentions on seeing if he can develop into a starting pitcher. That’s something he’s never really done before, however, and he’ll turn 23 years old in August of 2026. So, we’ll see how long of a leash the Reds give him with that avenue, since if they want to simply keep him in the bullpen there’s very little reason why he shouldn’t rocket through the minors and give them a legit relief arm at the big league level in short order.
Xander Bogaerts brought a winning track record to the San Diego Padres, but he struggled to get comfortable in San Diego. He was asked to move from shortstop to second base and he did so. Bogaerts then moved back to shortstop and the defensive uncertainty seems to have taken a toll on his offensive production. He had a solid second half of 2025 and Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune says he is the unquestioned shortstop going forward after the Padres traded Leo De Vries to the Athletics at last year’s trade deadline.
Padres News:
Jim Bowden of The Athletic provided seven names of players who could be traded before Opening Day. Bowden says the Padres could be trade partners with the Washington Nationals for shortstop CJ Abrams and Miami Marlins for pitcher Sandy Alcantara.
Cody Bellinger and the Yankees agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million contract that brought him back to New York for the 2026 season and beyond. He met the media Wednesday and said he is excited to be back in the Yankee clubhouse.
Dylan Larkin has piled up the shots of late, averaging 3.8 per game over his last 10 contests.
My Capitals vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks expect the volume to remain strong in an advantageous matchup against Washington on Thursday, January 29.
Don't miss puck drop at 7:30 p.m. ET on Hulu.
Capitals vs Red Wings prediction
Capitals vs Red Wings best bet: Dylan Larkin Over 2.5 shots on goal (-138)
Dylan Larkin has posted impressive shot outputs all season. He's gone Over this total in 63% of his appearances while averaging 3.0 shots on 6.1 attempts.
We’ve seen a further spike in recent weeks. Larkin’s averages have soared to 3.8 shots on 7.2 attempts over his past 10 games.
He should have a ton of shooting opportunities in this one. The Washington Capitals are a below-average shot suppression team, and Larkin has faced them twice. He cleared 2.5 shots in both games while generating 6+ attempts in each.
Larkin has already shown he can make noise against the Capitals. That should remain the case, given they've allowed more shots to centers than anybody over the last 10 games.
The Capitals also rank Bottom 10 in shot suppression vs. forwards this season. Larkin has played nine home games against such opponents, averaging 3.9 shots on target and going Over in eight of those games.
Five of them came following a day of rest. Larkin’s numbers increased even further, jumping to 4.2 shots per contest.
Capitals vs Red Wings same-game parlay
Larkin has scored in 41% of his games this season and 48% after a day of rest. His hit rate jumps to 56% when recording 3+ shots, which we’re banking on in this game.
Lucas Raymond leads the Detroit Red Wings in helpers by a country mile and skates with Larkin at 5-on-5 as well as on the power play. He's most likely to help facilitate a goal.
Going the other way, Jakob Chychrun is poised to make noise. He's recorded 12 shots on 22 attempts over two games against Detroit and attempted 8+ shots in three of his past four overall.
Capitals vs Red Wings SGP
Dylan Larkin Over 2.5 shots on goal
Dylan Larkin anytime goal
Lucas Raymond Over 0.5 assists
Jakob Chychrun Over 2.5 shots on goal
Capitals vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Capitals +106 | Red Wings -128
Puck Line: Capitals +1.5 (-230) | Red Wings -1.5 (+190)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-118) | Under 6.5 (-104)
Capitals vs Red Wings trend
Dylan Larkin has recorded 3+ shots in six of his past seven games against the Capitals. Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Capitals vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Hulu
Capitals vs Red Wings latest injuries
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The Atlanta Hawks will look to extend their four-game win streak when they host the Houston Rockets at State Farm Arena tonight.
Jalen Johnson has surged over his last five games, and my Rockets vs. Hawks predictions expect another strong showing from the do-it-all forward.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this inter-conference matchup on Thursday, January 29.
Rockets vs Hawks prediction
Rockets vs Hawks best bet: Jalen Johnson Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)
Jalen Johnson is enjoying a career-best season, averaging 22.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7.9 dimes, good for 41.3 PRA. He’s reached 40+ PRA in 27 of 45 games this season and 11 of 19 at home.
He's been even better as of late, averaging 44.6 PRA across his last five outings and hitting the Over on this combo line four times.
The Atlanta Hawks will play the second leg of a back-to-back set tonight, but Johnson has thrived in that situation all season. In seven games played with no rest, he’s reached 40+ PRA six times and averaged 47.6.
Johnson is hot right now, and he'll face a Houston Rockets team that's playing its second back-to-back set and fifth game in the last seven days. I expect him to stuff the stat sheet in front of the home crowd.
Rockets vs Hawks same-game parlay
The Hawks have won and covered in four straight and six of their last 10. The Rockets are just 3-7 ATS in that span, and the Rockets dropped a home game to the San Antonio Spurs last night.
Based on recent form, I'll back the home team to cover a small spread tonight.
The Rockets are 2-8 to the Under across their last 10, and the Hawks are 4-6 to the Under in that span.
Rockets vs Hawks SGP
Jalen Johnson Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists
Hawks +3.5
Under 225.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Good Sheppard
Reed Sheppard shot 41.4% from beyond the arc over his first 42 games, but he's knocked down just 2-of-18 three-pointers across his last three games. He's due for a bounce-back performance against a middle-of-the-pack perimeter defense.
Rockets vs Hawks SGP
Jalen Johnson Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists
Hawks +3.5
Under 225.5
Reed Sheppard Over 2.5 made 3-pointers
Rockets vs Hawks odds
Spread: Houston -3.5 (-110) | Atlanta +3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Houston -160 | Atlanta +135
Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)
Rockets vs Hawks betting trend to know
The Rockets have hit the Under in 15 of their last 18 games (+11.70 Units / 59% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Hawks.
How to watch Rockets vs Hawks
Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Space City Home Network, FDSN Southeast Atlanta
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The final review of the 2025 season will be looking at each position in the Astros farm system. Next up is the relief pitchers.
BEST OF THE BUNCH
Nick Hernandez
Hernandez has been in out of the season for a few years. He had a dominant season in Triple-A posting a 2.12 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 46.2 innings. He pitched some in Houston too, totaling 10.2 innings and allowing 6 runs. He is a free agent so not sure what his future holds, but it was a solid season for him.
Santa has been in the system since 2021 and has some high potential. The Astros moved him to full time relief role in 2025 and he had the best start of his career posting a 1.26 ERA with 63 K in 57 innings for the Hooks in Double-A. He was promoted to Triple-A but struggled with a 6.92 ERA. He should be back in Triple-A in 2026 and is only 23 years old.
David was drafted by the Astros in the 10th round and immediately started turning some heads with his heater reaching 99 MPH in Spring Training. He started the year in Single-A and had a 3.86 ERA with 51 K in 51.1 innings. He dominated in High-A posting a 1.40 ERA before finishing the season in Double-A. Overall, he showed plenty in his first full season to be excited about his potential in 2026.
Langford had a very interesting season. On one hand, he was dominant striking out 87 over 60.2 innings and holding opponents to just a .177 batting average against. On the down side though, Langford walked 63 in 60.2 innings. Obviously he has some dominating stuff from the left side, just has to clean up the command.
Leach has some of the nastiest stuff in the system and was dominant at times in 2025, but overall finished with a 5.54 ERA. He did finish with 63 strikeouts in 39 innings, including some run in Triple-A. He should return to Double-A or Triple-A in 2026.
Chirinos is another right-hander who at times was dominating. He started the year in High-A and struck out 38 over 22.2 innings, but had a 5.56 ERA. He finished the season in Double-A with a 4.30 ERA over 29.1 innings.
Sanchez is an undersized right-hander with an electric fastball. Like some others on this list, he was dominating at times but his command bit him a lot. He finished the season with a 6.05 ERA and 51 walks in 61 innings, though he did strike out 75.
Knorr was a 3rd round pick in 2022 but hasn’t live up to the hype yet. He pitched strictly in relief in 2025 posting a 5.03 ERA over 53.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He has some good stuff but just hasn’t translated to success.
The back end of the bullpen is locked down with Abreu and Hader but after that, there are some holes that probably need to get filled. I’m not sure it will be from anyone on this list, but the Astros will most likely look towards some of the starters who could help in the pen. Maybe someone like Blubaugh or Ullola will get some pen time as well.
Mathew Barzal is one of the more dynamic playmakers in the NHL.
He’s on pace to lead his team in assists, and my Islanders vs. Rangers predictions expect Barzal to create some magic against a team unable to keep the puck out.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Thursday, January 29.
Islanders vs Rangers prediction
Islanders vs Rangers best bet: Mathew Barzal Over 0.5 assists (+110)
Mathew Barzal is an assist machine in good matchups. He has picked up an apple in 13 of 21 games and seven of his past 10 against teams that rank Bottom-12 in goals against.
The New York Rangers certainly fit the criteria. They have allowed 50 goals — yes, 50 goals! — over 10 games since Igor Shesterkin went down with an injury.
The opposing team scored at least three in each of the 10, so it’s not as if they’re going through peaks and valleys. Every night is a steady dose of goals against.
Now playing without Artemi Panarin, who will remain on the sidelines until a trade is found, the Rangers have even less starpower in their lineup and are likely to spend more time on their heels.
We saw that Wednesday night, with the Islanders outshooting the Rangers 36-16 despite playing with a lead for 45 of the 60 minutes.
The New York Islanders are likely to have a ton of the puck again in this one. It’ll often be on the stick of Barzal, who is the team’s leader in assists and their best facilitator.
With Jonathan Quick struggling to stop pucks, one of the opportunities Barzal creates should lead to a goal.
Islanders vs Rangers same-game parlay
Anthony Duclair played 16:40 against the Rangers last night. Just under 15 minutes came attached to the hip of Barzal, whom Duclair is skating with at 5-on-5 and on the power play.
He has 12 points over his last 11 and correlates greatly with Barzal, so I like his chances of getting involved in this plus-matchup.
Without Panarin in the lineup, Alexis Lafreniere jumped up to the top power play. He had a pair of shots on goal and two of the team’s three scoring chances on the man advantage.
An increased role should improve his shooting floor and ceiling each night.
Islanders vs Rangers SGP
Mathew Barzal Over 0.5 assists
Anthony Duclair Over 0.5 points
Alexis Lafreniere Over 1.5 shots on goal
Islanders vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: New York -125 | New York +105
Puck line: New York -1.5 (+190) | New York +1.5 (-230)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)
Islanders vs Rangers trend
Mathew Barzal has assists in seven of his past nine road games. Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Rangers.
How to watch Islanders vs Rangers
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSGSN2, MSG
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
NBA legend LeBron James was brought to tears by a tribute video during the Los Angeles Lakers' defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James, 41, returned to his home state and former team for possibly the last time on Wednesday as speculation continues over whether he will retire at the end of the season.
He won the NBA title with the Cavaliers in 2016 after returning for a second stint.
During the break after the first quarter at Rocket Arena, the Cavaliers showed highlights of James' performance in game five of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals, when he scored 48 points to seal a double overtime victory.
James started watching the video before pulling his vest over his face then wiping his eyes with a tissue.
"I'm just trying to take everything in, not take the moments for granted," he said.
James said he had "not made a decision on the future" but that it "very well could be" his final season.
He said he was "more present" than on previous trips to Cleveland and that the occasion "definitely got to me a little bit".
James had won nine and lost three of his previous visits to Cleveland, with the Lakers and the Miami Heat.
He had never scored fewer than 21 points in a game, but managed only 11 in a 129-99 defeat on Wednesday.
James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has made 28 appearances for the Lakers this season.
The four-time NBA champion signed a one-year contract extension in June.
Although he missed the start of the season with sciatica, he became the first player to feature in 23 NBA seasons when he returned in November.
On this day 24 years ago Willie Harris, a minor but key piece of an eventual World Series champion arrived in Chicago. | (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
1900 Charles Comiskey received permission to relocate the Western League’s St. Paul Saints to Chicago, where they will become the White Sox of the American League.
1957 With air travel commonplace and MLB now stretching from coast to coast, the league considered drafting a plan to create a player pool to be used in the case of a plane crash. For whatever reason (likely that in the case of such a disaster a franchise would have to fold its current season and receive help from other clubs with an offseason draft) a plan never was put forth.
1964 Jim Brosnan is given permission from the White Sox to seek a deal with another team, after GM Ed Short forbids any further in-season writing (Brosnan previously had authored the classic book, The Long Season, as well as Pennant Race). Brosnan, who was acquired during the 1963 season and threw extremely well out of the pen (2.84 ERA, 15 saves and 1.1 WAR) for the pennant-chasing White Sox, would be released by the team on February 25.
Brosnan never pitched another game in the majors, his career over at age 34.
1981 Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn gained control of the Chicago White Sox for $20 million, after American League owners turned down Bill Veeck’s attempt to sell to Eddie DeBartolo.
For franchise value context, on the same day the owners approved an 80% sale of the Seattle Mariners for $10.4 million.
Reinsdorf’s original partner was William Farley, but Farley dropped out in part because the White Sox went out and signed free agents Ron LeFlore and Jim Essian. Farley didn’t approve of the team spending $3 million for them — even though Veeck got the money for the signings from DeBartolo.
Reinsdorf originally was part of a group trying to buy the New York Mets. Einhorn originally was part of a group trying to get the San Diego Padres.
1998 The end of Ozzie Guillén’s White Sox career became official, as the 34-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore. Ozzie’s first year away from the White Sox since 1985 proved eventful, as the O’s released him a month into the season. But Guillén would catch on quickly with Atlanta and would see action in both the 1998 and 1999 postseasons with the Braves.
2002 In the moment, it was a strange trade by GM Ken Williams, as the White Sox traded stalwart outfielder Chris Singleton to Baltimore for young utilityman Willie Harris.
Singleton had an extraordinary rookie season in 1999 (4.8 WAR and 20-of-25 steals playing a superb center field, somehow garnering just sixth place in AL Rookie of the Year voting) and had bounced back nicely with a 2.2-WAR 2001 after a tough sophomore season. Harris, younger by five years, never came close to reaching even those heights in Chicago.
However, Harris will always have a special place in the hearts of White Sox fans, scoring the winning (and only) run of the 2005 World Series Game 4 clincher. Harris lead off the eighth inning of a scoreless tie with a single to left, then was grinded over to third by a Scott Podsednik sacrifice bunt and Carl Everett ground out and driving in by Jermaine Dye’s dribble single to center field. Harris was 2-for-2 in the 2005 playoffs, the only postseason of his career.
2013 A damning story in the Miami New Times listed the names of several major leaguers who were customers of a PED clinic in Coral Gables, Fla., Biogenesis Laboratories. Álex Rodríguez is the headliner of shame, but three past or future White Sox are also named: Bartolo Colón, Melky Cabrera and Yasmani Grandal. All three had tested positive for PEDs within the year, legitimizing the case against Biogenesis.
The sinking Sacramento Kings have been largely unwatchable during a six-game losing streak, and it’s no surprise that they’re big underdogs tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers.
While Philadelphia is still searching for consistency and juggling load management absences, Sacramento’s struggles are on a whole other level, and my Kings vs. 76ers predictions signal one-way traffic for the hosts, led by an in-form Joel Embiid.
Check out my NBA picks ahead of this contest on Thursday, January 29.
Kings vs 76ers prediction
Kings vs 76ers best bet: Joel Embiid Over 27.5 points (-120)
Say what you want about some of Embiid’s limitations after all his knee injuries, the man is still putting up huge numbers, raising hopes about the 76ers’ postseason chances. He’s averaging 28.3 PPG on 54% shooting in January, and I’m taking these odds for his scoring binge to continue.
Embiid has gone past this number in five straight, headlined by a 38-point effort against the Knicks last weekend, and his minutes are quietly creeping up. Even without some of his explosiveness around the basket, he’s been making plenty of noise — and actually making a few 3-pointers, too.
In this matchup, the Kings have no shot at slowing him down. They’re giving up 120.8 PPG, the fourth-worst mark in the NBA, and there’s not much reliable center depth beyond Domantas Sabonis.
When Embiid is on the court, it makes sense for Philadelphia to feed him touches and keep Tyrese Maxey fresher for when he’s flying solo. That kind of formula positions the former MVP to feast in the paint and paves the way to the Over.
Kings vs 76ers same-game parlay
The 76ers have had a major edge over the Kings in recent years, winning eight of the past 10 meetings and posting a 7-2-1 ATS mark in that span. Sacramento is 1-5 ATS during its ugly skid, and I’m laying the points with a Philly team that should be close to full strength.
DeMar DeRozan could be a trade candidate before the deadline, and this is a nice spot for an audition. He scored 34 points against the Knicks last time out, and the Kings are dealing with backcourt injuries to Malik Monk, Russell Westbrook, and Zach LaVine. Pencil him in for this Over.
Kings vs 76ers SGP
Joel Embiid Over 27.5 points
76ers -12
DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: My Precious Rebounds
Precious Achiuwa has made the most of his minutes lately, and he’s averaging 5.9 RPG this month. The Kings will need all the frontcourt help they can get against Embiid, so this rebounds O/U line feels a little light.
Kings vs 76ers SGP
Joel Embiid Over 27.5 points
76ers -12
DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
Precious Achiuwa Over 5.5 rebounds
Kings vs 76ers odds
Spread: Kings +11.5 (-110) | 76ers -11.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Kings +400 | 76ers -550
Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)
Kings vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Kings are 3-20 SU on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. 76ers.
How to watch Kings vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Kings vs 76ers latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Williams brushed off speculation in December she was considering a comeback despite re-entering the sport’s drug testing pool. But the 23-time grand slam singles champion was not as dismissive about a return in an interview on NBC’s The Today Show.
